San Fernando councilwoman: 'I feel like I'm at Mad Hatter's tea party'

Alice Walton/KPCC

One San Fernando city councilwoman likens the city's turmoil to the tea party hosted by the Mad Hatter in "Alice in Wonderland."

With the personal lives of San Fernando’s elected officials taking center stage, one councilwoman today described the small city as being in “emotional freefall.” 

In just the last week, Councilman Mario Hernandez resigned office and his girlfriend, Councilwoman Maribel de la Torre, was charged with two misdemeanors related to a June 28 fight between the two. In a hastily arranged news conference yesterday, Hernandez told media he does not want to pursue the domestic violence case against de la Torre. Both Hernandez and de la Torre, however, obtained restraining orders against the other person. 

All of this comes as the two, along with Mayor Brenda Esqueda, are facing a pending recall election.

“I feel like I’m at Mad Hatter’s tea party and I didn’t even know I was invited,” Councilwoman Sylvia Ballin said in an interview with KPCC.

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